One in six pupils in Oxfordshire is classed as gifted or talented, new figures have revealed.

A total of 6,399 pupils in the county's secondary schools are judged to have abilities developed to a "level significantly ahead of their year group" or the potential to excel. That is equivalent to 17.1 per cent of all students.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) defines "gifted" pupils as those who are capable of excelling in academic subjects such as English or History.

"Talented" refers to those who may excel in areas requiring practical abilities, such as games, PE, drama or art.

DCSF figures for 2007 show Oxfordshire secondary schools have a higher proportion of gifted and talented pupils than the South East region, where they represent 14.3 per cent of all students, and England as a whole, where the proportion is 13.1 per cent.

The picture is slightly different in primary schools, where Oxfordshire's 2,581 gifted and talented pupils (5.5 per cent of the total) are surpassed by the South East's 8.7 per cent and England's 7.3 per cent.

The figures follow a pledge by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to expand the gifted and talented programme, which enables bright pupils to benefit from after-school, weekend and summer events, to assist one million pupils.

Currently 91 per cent of secondary schools and 65 per cent of primary schools identify their gifted pupils.

Teachers are expected to use assessments and special tests to discover which children are their brightest, as well as the results of key stage testing at seven, 11 and 14.

General characteristics which the DCSF has said "may alert" teachers to a potentially gifted and talented pupil include a strong reading ability, verbal fluency, quick responses, a wide general knowledge, ability to learn quickly, a range of interests, a sense of humour and a sense of leadership.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis has also announced an inquiry to report on how to boost applications to universities from pupils in comprehensive schools in disadvantaged areas.